Punching machine



May 2, 1939. E. J. VON PEIN El AL PUNCHING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 in m @E Patented May 2, 1939 PUNCHING MACHINE Edward J. Von Pein and Paul J. Schlessiger, Endicott, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 20, 1937, Serial No. 154,594

2 Claims.

This invention relates to punching or perforating machines and more particularly to machines of the type in which punching may be controlled either manually or by a previously punched rec- 0rd card.

The principal object of the invention is to increase the general flexibility and diversity of control .of a card reproducing or perforating machine so that reproduction of certain data on a punched card may be effected in accordance with any desired arrangement. Where it has heretofore been desired to reproduce data in particular fields of a'punched card and to suppress data punched in other fields, so-called skip bars and column cut-out bars have been provided to effect a machine setup whereby the same fields of each punched card to be reproduced would be rendered active and the same fields in each suppressed. I

Generally, a reproducing machine comprises a card carriage in which a prepunched master card and a blank card are placed side by side for concurrent step by step advance, the former to pass a row of sensing brushes and the latter 26 to pass a row of punches.

The sensing brushes read the data punched in the columns of the master card and control the operation of the punches to duplicate the perforations in the same columns of the blank card.

'0 Where it has been desired to suppress the sensing of certain columns, mechanical cut-out bars have been provided to do this and a different bar is required for each different arrangement of columns to be cut out.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide a universal electrical arrangement whereby through a simple plugboard manipulation, any column or columns may be cut-out and the arrangement rapidly changed. 40 Skip bars have been provided to cause the carriage to advance certain columns of the blank card past the row of punches where such columns are not toreceive perforations. This also has necessitated a different removable bar for 45 each different arrangement of columns to be skipped and it isalso proposed to provide a universal electrical arrangement to enable any colrim or columns to be automatically skipped by a simple plug wire adjustment.

50 Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in .the accompanying drawings whether 55 within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of the electric cir- '5 cults of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the essential operating elements of the punching section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the card carriage escapement mechanism of the machine. 19

Fig. 4 is a detail of the punch controlling contact and the operating device therefor.

Fig. 5 is a detail in section of the punched or master card analyzing devices,

Fig. 6 is a detail of the circuit breaker device. 15

The punching machine is generally of the form shown in the U. S. patent to Lee and Phillips No.

1,772,186, granted August 5, 1930, as improved by F. L. Lee, No. 1,878,935, granted September 20, 1932, and by Lee and Daly No. 1,976,618, granted 20 October 9, 1934, and the description thereof will be limited to the features essential to an understanding of the present invention.

In Fig. 2, punch selecting magnets III are provided, there being one for each of the twelve index point positions of the record card. Energization of magnet ill will attract its armature to rock an arm II in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot l2, thus moving key l3 downwardly to rock a bell crank I which has suitable connection with an interposer l5 mounted for horizontal reciprocation. The forward end of interposer i5 is suitably guided between an operating bar It and the upper end of a punch l1.

Forward movement of the interposer will position its widest portion between bar l6 and punch l1 so that subsequent counterclockwise rocking of bar It about pivot It will move the interposer and punch downwardly to perforate the record card l9. A notch 20 in the interposer w cooperates with a bail 2| to rock the same in a counter-clockwise direction when the interposer is moved toward the left. Rocking of bail 2i in such manner will draw a hook-shaped member 22 (see Fig. 4) toward the left to close a pair of contacts 23.

As will be explained in connection with the circuit diagram, contacts 23 complete a circuit through the punch magnet 24, causing it to attract its armature 25 and through linkage 26 draw downwardly on the bar l6 to cause depression of the selected punch. Depression of key la may, of course, be effected independently of the operation of the magnet ill for the purpose of manually controlling punching operations.

Disposed beneath the interposers 28 is a bail 21 which is carried by rod 28 upon one end of which is secured an arm 29 (see Fig. 3) for operating the escapement mechanism. This mech-' anism comprises a holding pawl 38 pivoted at 3| to the frame of the machine and a stepping pawl 32 loosely pivoted on rod 28 and normally urged by a spring 33 into engagement with the teeth 34 on the upper edge of the carriage rack 35. Rocking of rod 28 in a counterclockwise direction under action of an interpo'ser I! will lower pawl into engagement with a tooth 34 to hold the rack 35 in position while punching is being effected. This action at the same time raises pawl 32 out of engagement with teeth 34 and by virtue of its loose connection with rod 28 will move slightly toward the right in readiness to intercept the next tooth 34 when the rod 28 is returned to its original position.

Referring to Fig. l, the rack 35 is suitably mounted for horizontal movement in the frame of the machine and may be manually moved toward the right to the position shown wherein a record card I9 is placed in position with the first column thereof in line with the punches H. A finger piece 36 pivoted on a cross arm 31 of the carriage is utilized to return the same toward the right. when this finger piece is engaged (see Fig. 6), it turns slightly about its pivot 38 before moving the carriage and through a depending projection 39 rocks a rod 40 to rotate rod 4|.

Rod 4| has a finger 42 cooperating with the blade.

of a pair of cut-out contacts 43. The arrangement is such that during the movement of the carriage toward the right contacts 43 are open and remain so until finger piece 36 is released.

In Fig. 1, gear teeth cut on the underside of the rack 35 cooperate with suitable gearing 44 which is connected to the usual spring barrel 45 and governor 46 which tend to move the rack toward the left at aregulated rate and which effect such movement under control of the escapement mechanism just described.

Rack 35 is provided with extensions or arms 31 and 41 between .which a pattern or master card 48 is positioned in columnar alignment with the blank card I9 and which is adapted to be moved back and forth with the rack. An arm 49 carried by the rack 35 is provided for'cooperation with the card l9 to move it column by column pastthe punches |1. Positioned above the pattern card 48 is a contact roller 50 (see also Fig. 5) which is insulated from the frame of the machine and supported by a door 5| pivoted at 52. Directly below the roller 58 is a row of brushes 53 carried by a bar 54 which is normally in the position shown in Fig. 5, holding the brushes down out of engagement with the card 48. A magnet 55, upon energization, will attract its armature 56, actuating linkage 51 to cause upward movementof brushes 53 into engagement with the pattern card. This brush operating structure is fully shown and described in'the U. S. Patent to Lee and Daly No. 1,976,618, granted October 9, 1934 to which reference may be had for further details of construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, beneath the pawl 32 lies the free end'of a so-called skip-lift lever 59 which is pivoted at 66. For the purposes of the present invention, a rod 6| is arranged to abut the underside of lever 59 in line with pawl 32 and is suitably mounted for vertical reciprocation. The lower end of rod 6| rests upon an arm of armature 62 so that when magnet 63 is energized, rod 6| will be elevated and will raise pawl 32 out of engagement with teeth 34 freeing the rack 35 for leftward movement. The rod 6| carries a collar 64 which latches over armature 65 of magnet 66 so that the rod when raised will remain up until magnet 66 is energized. The interval between the successive energization of magnets 63 and 66 will therefore determine the extent that rack 35 will advance uninterruptedly and it is apparent that by adjusting the speed of operation of the magnets and the rate of movement of rack 35, the carriage may advance one or more teeth.

The arrangement now to be described will enable the energization of magnet 63 when any selected column of card I9 is at the punches to initiate a skipping operation at such point and will subsequently enable the energization of magnet 66 at any later column of the card to terminate the-skipping at that column.

Upon arm 41 is mounted a brush carrier 18 provided with electrically connected brushes 1| and 12, brush 1| being designed to cooperate with a common conducting strip 13 and the brushes 12 being designed to cooperate with eighty individual conducting blocks 14, there being one block for each of the eighty columns oi. the record cards. The strips 13 and blocks 14 are mounted in a block of insulating material 15 whichis suitably secured to the frame of the machine. One of the brushes 12 is in contact with a block 14 corresponding to the column of the record under the punches H or in cooperation with the brushes 53. Each block 14 is. electrically connected to a pair of plug sockets 16.

A group of sockets 11 is provided, anyone of which, when connected by a plug wire 18 to a socket 16, will automatically cause the carriage to skip when the related column is in punching position.

A second group of sockets 19 is provided. any one of which, when connected by a plug'wire 80 to a socket 16, will automatically terminate the skipping action when the related column is at the punching position.

A third group of sockets 8| is provided, any one of which, when connected by a plug wire 82 to a socket 16 will prevent sensing of therelated column of the pattern card and one or more subsequent columns.

A fourth group of sockets 83 is provided, any one of which, when connected by a plug connection 84 to a socket 16 will re-enable the sensing of the pattern card when the related column is reached.

The complete operation of the machine will now be traced with particular reference to Fig. 1. It will be assumed for purposes of explanation that the card I9 is to be manually punched in columns to 9; automatically skipped across column l0 and subsequent columns to present column 40 and then punched in columns 40 to 49 under control of the pattern card. It is assumed that the pattern card contains perforations in columns 58 to 59 which it is not desired to duplicate and it is desired to hand punch columns 68 to 80. For this setup the plug connections 18, 80, 82, and 84 are made as indicated in Fig. 1.

After cards I!) and 48 have been placed in position in the machine and the rack 35 moved toward the right to bring the first column of the card l9 into registration with the punches |1, switch 85 is closed to supply current to. lines 86 and 81. A circuit is immediately completed from switch 85, line 86, cutout contacts 43, so

called last column contacts 88 (which open after the last column is punched), contacts 88, brush 98, contact roller 58, brush 8| magnet 55, wire 92, line 81 to switch 85. This raises brushes 53 into engagement with pattern card 48. Since it is assumed that no perforations are in columns I to 8 of card 48, no circuits will be established through brushes 53.

Operationof keys I3 is now effected to punch columns I to 8, one by one, each key depression being followed by a punch operation and subsequent escapement to the next column. As explained above, operation of any key I3 will cause closure of contacts 23, energizing magnet 24 to effect punching and escapement.

When the card l9 has escaped from column 8 to column I8, a circuit is completed which is traceable from switch '85, line 81, common strip 13, brushes 1|, 12, block 14, socket 1B in column l8, connection 18, socket 11, wire 83, magnet 63, contacts 43 to switch 85. Magnet 83 elevates rod iii to raise pawl 32 to free rack 35 for movement toward the left.

The carriage will now advance uninterruptedly until column 48 is at the punching position. When it arrives in this position, a circuit is immediately established from switch 85,. line 81, common strip 13, brushes 1|, 12, block 14 in column 48, socket 18, connection 88, socket 18, wire 84, release magnet 86, contacts 43 to switch 85. Magnet 88 will release rod BI and pawl 32 will interrupt the rack 35 with column 48 in punching position.

The pattern card 48 contains perforations in column 48 and subsequent columns and automatic duplication of the data will now take place through circuits of which the following is representative. From switch 85, contacts 43, line 86, contacts 88, 88, brush 98, hole in column 48 of card 48, corresponding brush 53, wire in cable 95, punch selecting magnet l 8, line 81, back to switch 85. Magnet l8 will advance its interposers and eilect punching and escapement as described.

When the fiftieth card column is in punching position a circuit is completed from switch 85, line 81, strip 13, brushes'1l, 12, block 14 in column 58, socket 16, connection 82, socket 8|, wire 98, magnet 81, wire 98, line 86, contacts 43 to switch 85. Magnet 81 will attract its armature 98 to open contacts 88 in the duplicating brush circuits, thereby preventing ,completion of further circuits therethrough. When armature 99 is rocked counterclockwise, it is latched in such position by armature I88 of magnet IN and remains so until magnet MI is energized.

The carriage is now stepped along by key operation until column 68 is reached when a circuit is traceable from switch 85, line 81, strip 13, brushes ll, 12, block 14 of colunm 68, socket 16, connection 84, socket 83, wire I82, magnet l8l, wire 88, line 88, contacts 48 to switch '85. This releases contacts 88 for reclosure and from this point on punching is effected under 'control of perforations in card 48 or keys l3.

Punching in the last or eightieth column is accompanied by escapement slightly beyond the last column and such action opens contacts 88 to prevent circuits through brushes 53 and magnet 55. The punched card is removed from the machine and a new blank card inserted in the carriage. As the carriage is being returned to the left by engagement of the finger piece 36 (Fig. 6) contacts 43 are open, preventing the completion of any circuits as the brushes 1|, 12 wipe over the blocks 14 and strip 13.

The sockets 11, 18, 8|, and 83 are provided in multiple so that several fields of card l8 may be automatically skipped and sensing of several fields of card 48 may be suppressed and it is apparent that with sockets 16 multipled the skipping and elimination may be co-extensive or overlap.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In apparatus for punching cards to record data successively in different card fields, punches, duplicating means to control the punching in accordance with a pattern, means for moving said card step by step to successive positions, means comprising a single selectively settable device positionable to cause suppression of duplicating operations in any desired position of the card and all succeeding positions and means comprising a further single selectively settable device positionable to reenable the suppressed duplicating operations in any desired later position of the card and succeeding positions.

2. In a duplicating punching machine, a carriage arranged to receive a pattern card and a blank card to concurrently move the pattern card column by column past a. row of sensing devices as the blank card is moved column by column past a row of punching device's, said sensing devices being arranged to control said punching devices to duplicate perforations sensed in the pattern card, means for advancing said carriage, a selectively settable device, a member carried by said carriage and cooperating with said settable device, means controlled by said member and device when the carriage is in any selected position for causing suppression of the operation of said sensing devices, or the initiation of an uninterrupted advance of said carriage or both and means controlled by said member and settable device when the carriage is in any selected position for reenabling the operation of said sensing devices or the termination of the uninterrupted advance of said carriage or both.

EDWARD J. VON PEIN. PAUL J. SCHLESSIGER. 

